What do you love about the 3rd gen Toyota 4Runner?

[jhuerta22]

I love the fact that I can take it anywhere and not worry about breaking down on the way. Easily the most mechanically sound and low maintenance vehicle I've ever owned. I especially love it when people who call it a mom mobile stare in awe when I drive up a slope in 2WD without a problem.

 

[TXRick]

The rear window that rolls down!!!

A student of mine saw me driving around in my runner. The next day in class, he said "I saw you driving that crappy car with the back window busted out."

"It was rolled down, dork."

Needless to say, that boy spent lots of time in tutorials.

 

[mattcampos]

grew up in the 90s so 3rd gen was the most common image in my head of what a 4runner "should be" so i knew i had to get one. everything after looked a little too modern for my nostalgic ass lol :roadkill:

 

[Weejub]

3rd Gens are very well balanced front to back in addition to side to side. I always tell people they are like a cat.

OBDII

3.4L V6 gets you 2-3 more mpg than the 4.7L in the 4th Gen.

I am on my 5th 4Runner (also had a GX470) now and hoping going back to a '99 will be great.

My 4th Gen has been a great car for going on trips with the family, but we are looking to do a little more off-road and frankly, I think the 3rd Gen is better for it.

 

[Oprah]

I love my 4Runner because It's gotten me through three winter storms/blizzards that were tossing other vehicles off the road.

During my last expedition through Buffalo, NY on the NYS Thruway (I-90), I met a state police officer who couldn't believe I made it as far as I did (was filling up with gas at the Erie, PA/NY border). While I poured coffee inside the station, he asked what I was driving, I told him a 4Runner...

His reply: "Figures. I'd say good luck but hell that Toyota will take you anywhere."

PRICELESS.

I've been in the same situation going north on 81 in New York during a bad snow storm. No one else on the roads, poking my way down the road, road 100% snow covered and snowing so hard cant see where the road goes other than the gaurd rails occasionally sticking out of the snow, signs completely caked over and completely unreadable (without google maps gps on my phone i would have had to stop), seeing policemen pull off and stop, seeing an F-150 driving through 2 feet of snow in the median and getting stuck cuz he thought it was the road, a diligent driver and a 4Runner can go a long way.

Cheers to surviving northern NY snow storms with ease!

 

[paddlenbike]

Size and weight (it's not a bloated pig)
Durability, it's just incredible
Inexpensive to own (cheap parts & easy to repair compared to new stuff)
Supercharger
Manual Transmission
Rear Locker
roll down rear window + side exit exhaust (no fumes like newer gens)
coils on all 4 corners spoils you; I couldn't ever go back to leaf springs
aftermarket parts availability
best looking 4Runner ever made

 

[THatfield]

Cheers to surviving northern NY snow storms with ease!

It's no easy task for sure. No regrets doing it in the 4Runner. Best of luck in future cataclysmic New York snowstorms haha

 

[Hapkijo]

What i love about this my 4runner?

It was free. ( Thanks Auntie, RIP )
It's a 4x4.
It's beautiful, strong, well built, comfortable, flexible, and fun.
Also timeless, 10 years from now hopefully still be running. : )

 

[woodville66]

1. Smooth ride and handles well.
2. Dependable
3. good MPG
4. Easy to work on
5. Cheap parts
6. Fun to drive

 

[Badmotorfinger]

On top of everything else... No child safety silliness.

Rear windows go all the way down and you can unlock the doors from inside with your hands.

 

[Singtoe]

I love the electric rear locker and the power to weight ratio the 4Runner has.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I love that it's a Toyota, and is Toyota like in everything it does. And the 3RZ is gutless but awesomely bullet proof. Did I mention its a Toyota?

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Here is my list:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/179955-things-i-like-about-3rd-generation-4runners.html

 

[RPS99SHO]

Timeless design. These things will look good forever.

 

[ShannanC]

• Reliable
• Relatively easy to work on
• Nice styling
• Nice interior and creature comforts
• Mod friendly
• It's a Toyota
• It's paid for!!

:cheer2:

 

[Supreme Reign]

Beautiful. People think it's a late-model. Not big as a house like current mid-size SUV's and trucks. Doesn't stall in 30" flooded streets. Sounds AWESOME with a subwoofer. Acoustics and outside noise-dampening are phenomenal. Smooth, quiet ride. Fun to drive. Rear window goes down. Metal body. Beautiful to look at. Still a better value than most new vehicles. If mine wrecked, I would go buy another.

 

[paddlenbike]

The 3rd gen is also the last 4Runner to be offered with a manual transmission. I HATE automatics with a passion, so this fact guarantees I stay in a 3rd gen until the end of time.

 

[Hepar]

What has kept me owning one is the combination of style and size. It is big enough for me to haul all sorts of gear for almost any type of adventure, yet small enough to not be cumbersome with day to day stuff.

These days SUV's seem to be either on the big side or the small side. This one is juuuuuuuust right.

 

[amalik]

The 3rd gen is also the last 4Runner to be offered with a manual transmission. I HATE automatics with a passion, so this fact guarantees I stay in a 3rd gen until the end of time.

Now you just need a V8 swap

 

[Bstrom]

Acquired my first 4Runner, a '99 in Oct 2015, has 188k miles now. One owner, dealer serviced. Looks, runs and drives beautifully. Everything works. I'm back in the family again...nailed it!

Going for 300k miles...